Vroom Froome: Defending champ keeps going

Despite crash, British rider stays in race; Kittel wins his third stage in four races

The bandaged right wrist and left knee of Britain's Christopher Froome are seen after he crashed during the fourth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 163.5 kilometers (101.6 miles) with start in Le Touquet and finish in Lille, France, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. Froome's injured wrist is likely to cause problems tomorrow when negotiating the nine cobblestone section of the fifth stage. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

By JAMEY KEATEN
THE Associated Press

Published: July 8, 2014;Last modified: July 9, 2014 09:56AM

LILLE, France — Back on the race’s home turf after three days in England, the Tour de France faces a first possible shakeout today over the bone-rattling cobblestones in northern France.

Many riders dreaded the forecast for rain, meaning the stones will be slick.

Defending champion Chris Froome scuffed his left knee and elbow and injured his wrist Tuesday during Stage 4, a crash that couldn’t have come at a worse time for him.

“Took quite a tumble today but I’ll definitely be starting tomorrow with no serious damage,” Froome said on Twitter: “It’ll be a tough one for everyone on the cobbles!”

Astana team leader Vincenzo Nibali of Italy kept the yellow jersey in what he called a “crazy race” — a 163.5-kilometer (101.6 miles) ride along the Belgian border. Froome and two-time champ Alberto Contador are among 20 riders trailing Nibali by two seconds.

KITTEL MAKES IT 3: Marcel Kittel got his third stage victory in this Tour and the seventh of his Tour career on Tuesday. Unlike his wins in Stages 1 and 3, when he made victory look easy, Kittel won by a half-wheel length at the end of the ride from Le Touquet-Paris Plage to Lille Metropole.

Kittel, of the Giant-Shimano team, didn’t celebrate this time, but panted. The gesture at the line came from runner-up Alexander Kristoff of Norway, who swatted the air in frustration after being beaten by the barreling German. French rider Arnaud Demare was third.

After a difficult day of crosswinds, pockets of rain-smattered roads, and jumpy nerves in the peloton, Kittel said: “It’s never easy ... (I was) lucky just enough at the finish line.”

THE CHAMP CRASHES: Minutes into the stage, Team Sky leader Froome went tumbling after one rider bumped another — like a succession of dominoes — who crossed the Briton’s front wheel. He skinned his left knee and hurt his right wrist, but got back on his bike. Clinging to the race doctor’s car, he got bandaged and rejoined the pack. Then a teammate dropped back to get a splint at Sky’s car, and pedaled it up to the ailing Froome.

Race doctor Florence Pommerie told French TV his injuries amounted to “essentially a few scratches.”